Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of the double-orifice technique in the treatment of the anterior leaflet prolapse of mitral valve. Methods: 35 patients with severe anterior leaflet prolapse of mitral valve underwent valve repair using the double-orifice technique. The condition of valve was assessed with echocardiography preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively. Results: The mean postoperative valve area was (4 1?1 8) cm 2 against the preoperative valve area of (8 3?1 6)cm 2. Mild regurgitation was found in 2 patients after operation. There were no hospital deaths. At the latest follow-up, the heart function was improved significantly in all patients (NYHA class I). Echo-Doppler assessment of valve showed stable valve function in all patients. There were no late stenosis of valve and no late death. Conclusion: The results of this study show that the double-orifice technique is a safe and effective method for treatment of anterior leaflet of mitral valve with low mortality and morbidity, and excellent early and mid-term results.

Objective: To study the scavenging capacity of extract from four kinds of barley leaves on superoxide free radical and hydroxyl free radical. Methods: Measure the content of superoxide free radical and hydroxyl free radical by nitro blue tetrazolium(NBT) photo-reduction. Results: Along with the flavonoid in the reaction liquid, the scavenging rate shows ascending trend . When the concentration of flavonoid is 12?g/ml, its scavenging rate is 95.56% and 94.12% on superoxide free radical and hydroxyl free radical respectively. Conclusion: The flavonoids of barley leave s have stronger anti-oxidative action.

Animals ; Birds ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; immunology ; pathogenicity ; Influenza in Birds ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Influenza, Human ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Virulence ; genetics

AIM: To investigate the expressions of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI) in human corneal epithelium.METHODS: The expressions of CKI, P27, P21 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were tested in different regions of corneal epithelium by SP immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: Limbal basal cells stained positively for PCNA while central corneal epithelium cells stained negatively for PCNA, their difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).Positive staining for P27 and P21 were observed in central epithelium, but there was no positive staining in limbal epithelium. Their difference were also statistically significant (P＜0.01).CONCLUSION: The different expressions of CKI P27, P21and PCNA in different corneal epithelial regions suggest that in limbal basal layer there are a group of cells that have higher proliferative capacity staying in G1 status, namely stem cell.

BACKGROUND: It is reported that the first line medical staff have experienced posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) symptoms after severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) events. However, there are few reports regarding the PTSD symptoms among SARS patients and the public in epidemic area. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence and main influence factors of PTSD among SARS patients and the public in epidemic area.DESIGN: Sampling investigation.SETTING: First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University. PARTICIPANTS: Totally 114 SARS patients and 93 people were selected from the epidemic area of Taiyuan city from August to September in 2003.METHODS: Self-made stressor-cognition questionnaire, edited impact of event scale-revised (IES-R), perceived social support scale (PSSS), simple cope scale questionnaire(SCSQ), self-esteem scale(SES) and eysenck personality questionaire(EPQ) were conducted to 114 SARS patients and 93 common people in epidemic area. Correlative analysis was performed as well.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Detection rate of PTSD among SARS patients and the public in epidemic area. ② The score of intrusion factor,avoidance factor and hyperarousal factor of two populations. ③ The correlative analysis between IES-R score and influence factor among SARS patients and the public in epidemic area.RESULTS: The detection rate of suspect of PTSD among SARS patients was higher than that in public of epidemic area(55.1% , 31%, P = 0.000)The score of intrusion, avoidance and hyperarousal factor of SARS patients ( 11.37±9.54, 10.28±7.67, 6.55±6.20) was much higher than those of the public in epidemic area(5.64±4.68,5.58±4.74, 4.43 ±4.63,P = 0. 000) . The correlative analysis showed that the difference on PTSD incidence between SARS patients and the public of epidemic area might be due to the different stressor intensity and features. The negative response mode was the risk factor of both SARS patients and the public of epidemic area while self-esteem was the protective factor of SARS patients. CONCLUSION: ① PTSD symptoms had appeared among all the correlative populations although the exposure intensity of SARS event stress was different. The detection rate of PTSD and symptoms of intrusion, avoidance and hyperarousal were much common among SARS patients; ② The difference between groupswas due to the different stressor intensity as well as the different influence factors of different population.

The transport of glutamic acid through the surfactant liq uid membrane of trioctyl (mono) methyl ammonium chloride(Aliquat336)Span 80-toluene has been studied. The optimal experimental conditions for transport of gl utamic acid with high efficiency and high speed were obtained. The conditions we re that membrane phase was 0.020 mol/L Aliquat 336+3%(W／V）Span80+Tolu ene; Outer phase was 5×10-4 mol/L glutamic acid and Ph=9.3；Inner pha se was 0.05 mol/L HCl. The transport rate of glutamic acid reached 93% in 2 min of transport time. The phenylalanine was also transported at the optimal transpo rt conditions of glutamic acid. The transport rates of Glycine and basic amino a cids were lower. This method can be used for extraction and separation of micro amount of amino acids.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Liangxue Huayu therapy (LXHYT), a traditional Chinese herbal therapy for cooling blood and dissipating blood stasis, on rat model of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) and its impact on tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10 mRNA expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group, untreated EAT group, cyclosporine A (CyA)-treated group, Tripterygium glycosides-treated group and Liangxue Huayu Recipe (LXHYR)-treated group. The interventions were given by gavage to the rats in different groups once a day. All rats were sacrificed after 4-week treatment, and the level of serum thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) and the changes of histological grade of thyroid specimen were assessed by blind evaluation. Expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assessed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the serum TgAb level and severe inflammatory infiltration in the untreated group. Expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was increased, while the expression of IL-10 mRNA was decreased in the untreated group (P<0.01). Compared with the untreated group, CyA, Tripterygium glycosides and LXHYF could decrease the serum TgAb level (P<0.05), but the three interventions showed no significant improvement in thyroid inflammation (P>0.05). TNF-alpha mRNA expression was decreased, while IL-10 mRNA expression was increased as compared with the untreated group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: LXHYT can decrease the serum TgAb level and recover the balance of Th1/Th2. This may provide an experimental basis for further research of assessing the antipsoriatic effect of Chinese herbal drugs with a rat model of EAT as an alternative model of psoriasis in vivo.

Objective To investigate the effect of reinforcing spleen and kidney method on adriamycin-induced CKD in rats and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods Totally 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a Adriamycin-induced model group and a control group.The model group was further divided into five groups:the Adriamycin-induced model control group,bennazepril-treated group,and TCM treated low,moderate,and high dose groups.The level of serum creatinine,urea nitrogen,24hours urine protein and urine creatinine were measured at 14,28,42 days after establishing the model rats.And the protein expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21cip1 (p21)were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results The proteinuria was observed on the seventh day after injection of adriamycin in adriamycin nephropathy model group,and reached summit on the fourteenth day.Both TCM treated groups and benazepril group reduced the level of urine protein within 24 hours (P＜0.05),the reduction was most remarkable in the TCM high dose group.The expression of p21 and TGF-β1 (p21 288627.66±97021.65,TGF-β1 98405.14± 19216.89) in kidney increased in the model groups,while the TCM treated high dose group (p21 518886.35±6810.89,TGF-β1 222012.95± 50484.73) was significantly lower than the model control group (P＜ 0.05).Conclusion Reinforcing spleen and kidney method could decrease the level of urine protein within 24 hours by regulating the expression of p21 and TGF-β1,so thus to protect renal function and delay progress of kidney disease.

Objective To analyze the impact of tripterygium glycosides (TG) on the expression of CXCR3 and CCR4 gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) rats, and to explore the possible mechanism for regulation of Th1/Th2 balance by TG. Methods EAT was induced in 20 rats, which were randomly divided into two groups, i.e., control group and TG group, to receive intragastric physiological saline and TG suspension (5.5 mg/kg) daily, respectively. The rats were killed 4weeks later, and total RNA was extracted from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rats and used for cRNA synthesis. The gene expressions of CXCR3 and CCR4 were detected with a Th1-Th2-Th3 microarray gene chip and realtime RT-PCR. Results Compared with the control group, there was a significant decrease in the mRNA expression of CXCR3 (0.52 ± 0.10 vs. 1.05 ± 0.17, P < 0.01 ) and CXCR3/CCR4 ratio (0.39 ± 0.22 vs. 1.04 ± 0.12, P< 0.01) in the TG group, together with an increase in the mRNA expression of CCR4 (1.56 ±0.13 vs. 1.02 ± 0.09, P < 0.01 ). Conclusions TG could regulate the number of Th1 and Th2 cells as well as their cytokine expression ratio likely by reducing CXCR3 and enhancing CCR4 expression, so as to modulate the Th1/Th2 balance in EAT rats.

OBJECTIVETo compare differences of therapeutic effect between acupuncture method of tonifying-qi and dredging-meridian and conventional acupuncture method.

METHODSSeventy cases of blepharospasm were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each one. Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yuwei (Extra) through Yuyao (EX-HN 4), Xinming 1 (Extra), Sibai (ST 2) and Yintang (GV 29) were selected as main acupoints. The acupuncture method of tonifying-qi and dredging-meridian was applied in the observation group, which was an acupuncture manipulation that could achieve strong needling sensation of qi arrival combined with electric-impulse stimulation. The conventional acupuncture method was applied in the control group. The treatment was given once every other day, 10 times as a session for continuous three sessions in both groups. The severity of blepharospasm was compared before and after treatment in two groups and clinical therapeutic effect was assessed. Follow-up visit was performed after half a year to observe the recurrence rate.

RESULTSThe cured and markedly effective rate was 77.1% (27/35) in the observation group, which was superior to 51.4% (18/35) in the control group (P < 0.05). Among cured and markedly effective patients in both groups, the recurrence rate was 20.0% (4/20) in the observation group, which was inferior to 54.5% (6/11) in the control group (P < 0.05) in the follow-up visit.

CONCLUSIONThe acupuncture method of tonifying-qi and dredging-meridian could effectively improve severity of blepharospasm, which has superior short-term and long-term effects to conventional acupuncture method.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Blepharospasm ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Qi ; Treatment Outcome